Relation between longitudinal and lateral action points

Abstract

Delay on the motorways can be reduced by traffic management measures changing driving behaviour, which need to be tested before implementation. Microscopic traffic simulation is well suited for this, if sufficiently accurate. Recent studies show that drivers do not continuously change their acceleration, but rather at specific moments in time. These moments are called longitudinal action points. Also for lane changing, moments in time can be identified when drivers start and end changing lanes, so called lateral action points. This paper develops a methodology to find these action points. Data of individual driving behavior, collected from a helicopter, show that the approach with action points is plausible. Moreover, the longitudinal and lateral action points are correlated. Current models not incorporating this discontinuous behaviour correctly, might produce incorrect predictions.